Hey I just got done putting in my RA gear'd tranny. Well its been 2 days since I completed it. Well last night I see oil on my driveway and check it out. It smells just like gear oil. So the first thing I do is check the oil.. its a qrt low. So I than check the drain bolt. Thats tight. So I took it down to the shop and put it on the lift. It looks as if it was leaking out of the right axel. Im not sure how this could happen. I know the axel pin that i put back in, the end was broken off. But it still went through more than half the axle. It appears to have the same amount of play in the axel as the left side, which is completly dry. I hate these trannys. Just when I thought I was done with it..

On my dsm "not sure if this applys to subarus" the fluid was way over filled and it leaked out the axel. Did you check the fluid worm? i believe thats how your supposed to.

Damaged axle seal! Easy to do and tough to replace. They go on from the inside of the tranny, but could be replaced by removing the CV axle and spinning the back lash adjuster all the way out(thing with the nubs that the axle stub goes through). Never done it this way, but should work just fine and way easier than splitin' the trans.

BTW-they are directional so make sure you get the correct one

Kevin

So if it is the seal. Can anyone confirm that I can replace it without removing the tranny? Im really not in the mood to ever want to take it out again.
If its a damaged seal, would it be the transmission builders fault?

I dont know if it account for anything but when I was a quart shy i added the penzoil syncro mesh, to get it up there again. Well I checked it last night after inspecting it to find where the leak was and after I added the syncromesh. I checked the dipstick and it had a slight white color to the oil. Is that normal.

The seal is easy to damage putting the axle in, and yes it can be replaced without removing the tranny.


Brian

make sure to make a mark on the back lash adjuster housing and the tranny in the same spot so that you know how far to screw it back in when re-installing the housing into the side of the tranny.

I made the same mistake and did it this way...no problem.....it is a PITA to get off though without the Subaru tool....screw driver and hammer worked though.

Does anyone have something to show me how to install it? Or is it basically... I have to mark where the adjuster is, remove the bolt and it just comes off?
When I ordered the seal, they also told me to order this giant o-ring. Is that correct?

Yes, you should do the o-ring also. It's cheap and your in there. You may find the inner lip of the seal has been folded over after you remove the side cap. It's very easy to catch the seal when putting the front diff in (left side) and case half on (right side). Good luck.
Andrew

Just put a bunch of grease on the axle stub before reinstalling so the seal is less likely to get cought up on something.

Glad to see that it can and has been replaced without the trans being split. I always thought it was possible to do it this way, just never have myself.

Kev

Well I got it fixed. I took about an hour start to finish... The seal was garbage! no more leaks now either.

I am having the same leak out of the passenger side of the tranny.

Does any one know the part numbers for those 2 seals?

And what would cause the axle to keep popping out? (I think that is why it is leaking.)

thanks

the axle shouldnt pop out.. check out the dowel pin and make sure its in there

I am going to a dealership to get it fixed next week. So I will be watching them do the work, and hopefully figure it out for myself.

Which of your seals was damaged?
If you have the part numbers too, I would appreciate you digging them up. I want to order them ahead of time since I have to have the car back the same day.

thanks,
chud

EDIT: I think these are the MT part#s:

G730041 oil seal right
G730042 oil seal left
G97501 o-ring

Yeah you just buy the seal.. which is obvious. Than the o-ring. Its an easy fix.. But make sure you have that dowel pin on the axel.. Thats the only thing I can think of as to the reason your axle keeps popping out.